Word Origin & History

Old English fæðm "length of the outstretched arm" (a measure of about six feet), also "arms, grasp," and, figuratively "power," from Proto-Germanic *fathmaz "embrace" (cf. Old Norse faðmr "embrace, bosom," Old Saxon fathmos "the outstretched arms," Dutch vadem "a measure of six feet"), from PIE *pot(e)-mo-, from root *pete- "to spread, stretch out" (see pace (n.)). There are apparent cognates in Old Frisian fethem, German faden "thread," which OED explains by reference to "spreading out."

Example Sentences for fathoms

It was said, afterwards, we were in five fathoms water at this time, but for this I will not vouch.

We were about fifty fathoms from the shore, and I could not swim a stroke!

"I have never been further than eighty fathoms from the land," was one of his boasts.

Soundings were taken, and the ship found to be in twenty-six fathoms of water.

A quarter of a mile in, we sounded a second time, and had forty-three fathoms.

The wind had died out, and they had dropped the anchor in forty-three fathoms.

In the other part of the entrance there is forty fathoms of water or more.

We were lying to and heaving the lead at the time and had no ground at 120 fathoms.